Do house plants really improve indoor air quality?
You’ve probably heard people say that keeping plants in your home or office helps to make the air cleaner, but science says otherwise. There are two primary myths about keeping plants in indoor spaces: one is that you get more oxygen with a houseplant around, and the other is that the plant helps clean the air. Turns out, neither one is true.
Can house plants purify the air in a room?
New research, however, continues to show that houseplants do next to nothing to purify the air in your home. It’s a myth you almost wish hadn’t been busted. Houseplants, though charming, do little to purify the air in a room, say the scientists who study the air we breathe.
What are some houseplants that clean the air?
The 10 Best Air Detoxifying Houseplants
- Peace Lily. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’) – A beautiful flowering plant with unique blooms. ...
- Florist’s Chrysanthemum. Florist’s Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) – Also known as Florist’s Daisy and Hardy Garden Mum, is a beautiful perennial of the family Asteraceae.
- Red-Edged Dracaena. ...
- Snake Plant / Mother-in-Law’s Tongue. ...
Do houseplants improve air quality?
They analyzed 196 experiments from 12 previously published studies and concluded that indoor houseplants don’t actually improve air quality enough to make a difference in the amount of volatile organic compounds polluting indoor air.
How much do houseplants actually clean the air?
Scientists studying the effectiveness of indoor plants for the passive removal of ozone, found houseplants make "at best, modest contributions of about 0.9–9% to indoor ozone removal effectiveness," they reported in 2017 in the journal Building and Environment (opens in new tab).
Which indoor plant purifies the air the most?
Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium) Florist's chrysanthemums or “mums” are ranked the highest for air purification. They're shown to eliminate common toxins as well as ammonia.
Do house plants take toxins out of the air?
Through photosynthesis, they convert the carbon dioxide we exhale into fresh oxygen, and they can also remove toxins from the air we breathe. One famous NASA experiment, published in 1989, found that indoor plants can scrub the air of cancer-causing volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and benzene.
What House plants help clean air?
According to the 1989 Nasa study on Interior Landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement, author B.C. Wolverton recommends having at least two 'good sized' plants per 100 sq ft (9.2 sqm) of indoor space. Suggested plants include Golden pothos (below), Boston Fern and Weeping Fig.
Is it OK to sleep with plants in your bedroom?
Some plants also release relaxing and tranquilizing essential oils that help us fall asleep quicker and sleep deeply, making them excellent houseplants for the bedroom. With proper plant selection, growing houseplants in bedrooms is perfectly safe.
How many plants do you need in a room to clean the air?
Although it is difficult to say exactly how many plants are needed to purify indoor air, Wolverton recommends at least two good sized plants for every 100 square feet (approximately 9.3 square meters) of indoor space. The bigger the plant and leafier the plant, the better.
Are plants better than air purifiers?
Several different plants can help you improve air quality, but they won't be as effective as a high-quality air purifier. Using plants alone to improve air quality will not bring desired results and plants should always be used as a supplementary option for air cleaning.
Do houseplants have health benefits?
Multiple studies have proven that indoor plants keep you healthier and happier, offering both psychological and physical health benefits that include: Improving your mood. Reducing fatigue. Lowering stress and anxiety.
How many houseplants is too many?
How Many Plants are Too Many?Number of plantsWeekly Time RequiredPotential space required per sq foot2 Plants8 minutes24 Plants40 minutes620 Plants3 hours3240 Plants6 hours651 more row
How can I purify the air in my house naturally?
Below find 8 natural air purifier options, straight from experts.Prioritize plants. ... Reduce sources of air pollution. ... Vacuum and dust regularly. ... Go burn-free. ... Open the windows regularly. ... Maintain clean filters. ... Try this box-fan hack. ... But maybe invest an air purifier, too.
How many plants does NASA recommend?
NASA also recommended to have at least one plant per 100 square feet (10 square meters), and although this research is quite old, it is still regarded by many as the most comprehensive and accurate to date.
How do I disinfect the air in my house?
Use a portable air cleaner or air purifier if you have one When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses, in a home or confined space.
Which indoor plants produce the most oxygen?
Top 10 Highest Oxygen Producing Indoor PlantsAreca Palm. Buy Areca Palm. Golden palms, butterfly palms, and yellow palms are all names for Areca palms. ... Snake Plant. Buy Snake Plant. ... Spider Plant. Buy Spider Plants. ... Peace Lily. Buy Peace Lily. ... Aloe vera. Buy Aloe Vera. ... Gerbera Daisy. Buy Gerbera Daisy.More items...•
What are NASA recommended houseplants to improve air quality?
A great plant for beginners, pothos is a very effective air purifier, helping in significantly reducing the most common house air pollutants including benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene. It is also a very hardy plant that can survive most extreme situations.
How many plants does NASA recommend?
NASA also recommended to have at least one plant per 100 square feet (10 square meters), and although this research is quite old, it is still regarded by many as the most comprehensive and accurate to date.
Which plant gives the most oxygen?
Areca palm produces more oxygen compared to other indoor plants and it is a great humidifier too. What sets the Areca Palm apart is its ability to remove dangerous chemicals from the environment and keep the oxygen pure. In fact, NASA considers this plant as one of the best air-purifying plants that we have.
Why do people keep plants in their home?
There are two primary myths about keeping plants in indoor spaces: one is that you get more oxygen with a houseplant around, and the other is that the plant helps clean the air.
How many plants are needed for every square foot of ventilation?
Modern ventilation takes care of a lot of the cleaning for us, so it would require 10 plants for every square foot to notice a difference, Waring said. Think basically living in a greenhouse.
Is it good to have plants around?
However, plants are certainly positive. They create psychological benefits and overall produce good vibes, so they’re nice to have around, even if they’re not the air-cleaning machines we thought they were.
Do houseplants clean the air?
Sure, houseplants are great. But they’re not actually cleaning the air. Houseplants' air-cleaning and oxygen-producing benefits may have been exaggerated, a new study says.
How Can Houseplants Improve the Air Quality?
Plant function is essential for not only keeping themselves alive but also for humans. Plants carry out photosynthesis, which helps them to maintain the level of gases within the environment.
What Types of Houseplants Purify the Air?
Many houseplants clean the air and maintain a toxic-free environment. But for them to function perfectly, you need to maintain proper plant care.
What is the best vine to plant in the bathroom?
English Ivy. English Ivy is a famous climber seen on the walls and trees outdoors. According to NASA research, they take the 1 st spot in the purification of air. They are easy-growing perennial vines that help to reduce air toxins. English Ivy can be placed in the bathroom or even suites.
What is the name of the plant that helps you sleep at night?
Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue. The Snake plant is famous for a peaceful sleep at night if kept in a room. The succulent foliage has yellow stripes. The Snake Plant releases oxygen at night, helping to maintain peaceful breathing at night.
Why are indoor plants good for you?
This is one of the reasons how indoor plants benefit our health. This process also helps to decrease the level of harmful toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. Plants absorb the toxins and gases (carbon dioxide) and allow a clean and toxin-free environment to breathe.
How do houseplants help with stress?
Even NASA’s study claims that the presence of molds and bacteria reduces by 50-60% with houseplants. They also help to reduce stress and boost your mood.
What do roots and leaves do to the air?
The roots and the leaves inhale these gases and neutralize them effectively. .
What are houseplants, and what’s their purpose?
Houseplants are small trees, shrubs, flowering plants, and other greenery planted in soil and kept indoors all year round.
What will help purify the air?
If you’re truly worried about air quality, first things first: Optimize your ventilation. Take the extra step to open windows, when possible. This will allow in a steady stream of air from outside.
Why do we put houseplants on our desk?
Houseplants have long been loved as a way to bring some of the warmth and comforts of the outside, natural world indoors . But did you know that the plant on your desk may not just be brightening your day, it could also be helping to clean your air?
What is the most popular house plant?
Philodendrons. Philodendrons ( Philodendron spp.) can be found in a vast array of shapes and sizes, and are some of the most popular house plants.
What is the name of the plant that grows quickly?
Spider Plant. Spider plant ( Chlorophytum comosum) is easy to grow and requires very little attention. This tough plant thrives on neglect, making it an ideal houseplant. Its common name comes from the "spidery" look of the baby plants it grows rapidly.
Why are peace lilies so popular?
Peace lilies ( Spathiphyllum spp.) are a popular indoor plant because of their beauty and hardy nature. They are easy to grow and can provide years of enjoyment with their large, dark green leaves and showy, spoon-shaped, white flowers.
Do microorganisms clean the air?
And researchers have found that it's not just the plants. Microorganisms in the potting soil also do a fair job of cleaning the air (this only works if leaves and other detritus aren't covering up the soil).
Can you put an aloe plant on burnt skin?
Keeping an aloe plant in your kitchen is a great idea; a leaf can be quickly grabbed, split open, and placed on burnt skin to quicken healing time. While aloe plants grown outdoors do bloom, those grown inside rarely flower.
When did houseplants start cleaning the air?
The idea that houseplants are capable of cleaning the air got started with a 1989 study called Interior Landscape Plants for Air Pollution Abatement, which is usually referred to as the NASA Clean Air Study for short. NASA researchers (co-funded by the trade group Associated Landscape Contractors of America) measured the ability ...
How many plants do you need to purify the air?
The NASA researchers added that to effectively purify the air, a person would need at least one houseplant per 100 square feet.
How often do VOCs get released into the air?
Also, researchers normally added a VOC to the air in a test environment via a single dose, a one-time shot. In the real world, VOCs are continually released into the air, not just once but over and over again.
How to reduce VOCs in indoor spaces?
As it turns out, the most efficient way to substantially reduce the amount of VOCs in indoor spaces like homes and offices is to allow the building ventilation to move air outdoors in a process called outdoor-to-indoor exchange.
Why do people use their senses to touch houseplants?
A study from the Journal of Physiological Anthropology reported that when young adults used their senses to interact with houseplants in ways like touching their foliage or smelling a blossom, they noticed a reduction in both mental stress and physical signs of bodily stress.
Why do people care about plants?
This one is a bit surprising because the connection between plants and the benefits they provide isn’t as intuitive as some of the others we’ve discussed. Regardless, people who are often around ornamental plants have been proven to be more helpful to others, feel increased concern and empathy for the plight of their friends and colleagues, and generally report more advanced social relationships. The researchers surmise that spending time caring for plants makes a person more likely to also care about the people in their lives.
Why are plants good for you?
Experts saw benefits in the brain’s electrical activity, lowered muscle tension, and healthier heart activity. Patients who were recovering from surgery healed better and were happier with their treatment when an ornamental plant was placed in their hospital rooms than patients in rooms that didn’t have plants. The patients also said they felt less stressed and formed more positive impressions of their caregivers. Healing time is also reduced when patients have flowering plants in their rooms.
How do plants purify the air?
"Plants do the opposite; they absorb carbon dioxide and create oxygen." According to Collins, plants clean the air by absorbing toxins, including VOCs—they also remove harmful pollutants and bio effluents, which are things that humans exhale (such as carbon dioxide and viruses), via tiny pores on their leaves.
What is the best plant to clean the air?
English ivy (Hedera) is another tried-and-true workhorse—it's been shown to remove particulate matter from the air—as are snake plants(Sansevieria), which are superior at cleaning the air and require little maintenance (they can take natural or artificial light, dry air, and even infrequent waterings).
Why do we need leafy greens in our homes?
The leafy green companions we keep in our houses not only brighten up our indoor spaces , but they also make the air we breathe a little cleaner in the process. The reason? According to Mike Rimland, the Vice President of Research and Development and Company Global Ambassador at Costa Farms, plants remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as cited in a study conducted by Dr. Wolverton at NASA. In this study, plant roots were shown to convert air laden with VOCs into food. "VOCs are something we don't tend to think much about, but the more energy-efficient our buildings become, the more they become trapped ," he explains.
Why do we need to be around plants?
Your favorite houseplant brings more to the table than cleaner air. "Being around plants, especially indoors, can help us feel less stressed and more relaxed ," Rimland says. "Some science even points to plants helping lower our blood pressure levels."
Do plants absorb carbon dioxide?
They absorb carbon dioxide and pollutants, too. Oleta Collins, of Flourishing Art Design Studio, explains that all plants have purifying abilities through photosynthesis. "We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide," she says. "Plants do the opposite; they absorb carbon dioxide and create oxygen.".
Do plants remove VOCs?
According to Mike Rimland, the Vice President of Research and Development and Company Global Ambassador at Costa Farms, plants remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as cited in a study conducted by Dr. Wolverton at NASA. In this study, plant roots were shown to convert air laden with VOCs into food.
Do Peace Lilies help with allergies?
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum), which are very common, filter VOCs that irritate our eyes, noses, and throats, which ultimate exacerbate colds, flus allergies, or asthma. Additionally, this easy-to-grow plant has been shown to help humidify dry air, which can also soothe dry skin.
The Science
It's clear plants will absorb air into their leaves and while processing it for their own chemical reactions, what comes back out is cleaner air than what went in.
The reason why it doesn't work
Published scientific research will detail how the researchers have conducted their experiments in their methodology. This means everyone else who wants to check for themselves can repeat the same study and (hopefully) get the same result.
How can I make it work at home?
If you've read the above sections, you will already know one houseplant will barely make a dent in purifying your home. Obviously the more you add, the more that collectively can be done.
What are the best air-purifying plants?
Okay, so we can't meaningfully fix poor air quality issues with houseplants. But some plants do a better job than others and you could be in the camp which takes the view that even a tiny boost is better than nothing. "Glass half full" and all that.
Let's Sum Up
Yes, indoor plants and indoor gardening are completely worth your time and effort and will provide many positive effects. It's just that very clean indoor air isn't one of them.
Why are house plants good for you?
You've probably heard at some point that house plants are good for your health because they can clean, filter and purify the air of various toxins and pollutants.
Which is the least effective plant?
So the 1st plant in the list ( Areca Palm) is the most effective and the 50th ( Kalanchoe) is the least.
Why do we need biospheres?
NASA proposed that if humans traveled to inhospitable planets then biospheres would need to exist in order to support life, much like a spacecraft provides a suitable environment for its passengers as they travel through space.
Can houseplants remove viruses?
When NASA released their research that houseplants could remove chemicals, harmful bacteria and viruses from the air people were understandably very excited. As a result, significant research was carried out that looked at houseplants and their air purifying abilities in homes and places of work.
Do plants have air cleaning ability?
However even if some of your own plants didn't make it into the list there is no reason to see this as a negative. Almost all plants on the planet have an air cleaning ability, although it's true some are better adapted to deal with certain toxins, pollution and putting moisture back into the air than others.
Who is Tom from Ourhouseplants?
He is the main content writer for the Ourhouseplants Team .
Do plants provide food for humans?
Humans have always "known" plants did more than provide food for us or look good, but there was no real science to support this idea until about 40 years ago.
Snake Plants
Snake plants, or Dracaena trifasciata, are very popular as air purifiers. It helps that they need very little care and are almost impossible to kill naturally.
Red Dragon Trees
Like snake plants, red dragon trees are in the dracaena genus. Their full scientific name is Dracaena marginata, and they’re evergreen plants that feature ribbon-like leaves with red edges.
Spider Plants
Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are excellent air purifying plants for gardening beginners. They’re among the most resilient houseplants and require very little care.
English Ivy
The English ivy plant is a perennial vine that grows naturally in Europe and Western Asia. Its scientific name is Hedera helix, and other common names include European ivy or just ivy.
Dwarf Date Palms
Many palms are good air purifying plants, but dwarf date palms (Phoenix roebelenii) are among the best. They’re also known as miniature date palms and pygmy date palms.
Bamboo Palms
Bamboo palms (Chamaedorea seifrizi) are perfect plants for low light conditions. Their appearance makes them a great focal point for almost any room in the house, and they require very little care.
Flamingo Lilies
The flamingo lily is ideal if you want an air-purifying plant that adds color to your home. The heart-shaped leaves are glossy, and the blooms are an eye-catching red. It will flower in almost all conditions, making it an excellent choice for most homes.
